Steam iron venting means



Sept. 1, 1964 J. c. FAGAN 3,146,540

STEAM IRON VENTING MEANS Filed Jan. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTYS.

Sept. 1, 1964 c FAGAN 3,146,540

STEAM IRON VENTING MEANS Filed Jan. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA.

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,146,540 Patented Sept. 1, 1964 3,146,540 STEAM IRON VENTING MEANS John C. Fagan, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Proctor Manufacturing Corporation, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 170,065 11 Claims. (Cl. 38--77) This invention relates to steam irons, and more particularly to steam irons of the flash boiler type.

Flash boilers irons are ordinarily provided with a water reservoir from which a metered flow of water can be fed to a steam generating chamber in the soleplate. In their most convenient form, such irons are provided with a forward-facing tube through which the reservoir may be filled with water when the iron is supported on a heel rest, this tube being arranged to extend from the reservoir through a hollow front column of the iron handle.

To assure satisfactory filling, it has been found necessary to make the fill tube of relatively large area and of minimum length in order to permit displaced air to escape from the reservoir past the water flowing in the opposite direction. This requirement presents special problems in the construction of a compact iron, particularly if it is desired to accommodate other elements in the front column of the iron handle, such as, for example, the unique and advantageous arrangement of a vertically mounted thermostatic switch supported on the forward part of the soleplate as described in Patent No. 2,880,531, issued to R. H. I-Iouck on April 7, 1959.

In order to facilitate filling, separate air Venting means have been proposed comprising a tube extending to the outside of the iron from the top of the water reservoir. This provision has the disadvantage of permitting the escape of steam that may be generated in the reservoir when the iron is in use, and the steam may entrain droplets of hot water as well. Two arrangements have been suggested to direct these objectional contaminants away from the hand of the user. In one case the vent tube is extended above the cover and is shaped to face forward in the same manner as the fill tube. In another case, the outlet end of the vent communicates with an enlarged fill tube entrance, a provision which is not entirely satisfactory since filling water may enter the vent tube and nullify its purpose.

In the iron of the present invention, a vent tube is provided at the forward end of the water reservoir, having an inlet adjacent the bottom of the reservoir and an outlet immediately above the top of the reservoir. When the iron is supported on its heel, the vent is at the highest point of the reservoir and freely evacuates air as water is introduced through the separate fill tube. When the iron is shifted to operating position, the body of water above the inlet to the vent tube forms a liquid seal to prevent the escape of steam or entrained water. By this provision it is unnecessary to extend the vent to the outside of the iron, an arrangement considered necessary with vents of the prior art to prevent the accumulation of condensate on the electrical parts. With such venting, a fill tube of relatively small area may be successfully employed.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a steam iron embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the iron of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the front portion of the iron;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

. the side edges of the soleplate.

FIGURE 6 is a detail perspective view of the water valve actuation linkage;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l to 4, numeral 10 represents a soleplate having a U-shaped heating element 11 embedded therein with its bight adjacent the toe of the soleplate and its legs extending rearwardly adjacent In the upper surface of soleplate 10 is formed a steam generating chamber 12, here a recess in the soleplate, which is closed by a cover 13. Cover 13 is preferably formed with a peripheral U-shaped lip 14 which is forced into groove 15 in the upper surface of soleplate 10 and thereby secures the cover in sealed relationship with steam generating chamber 12. A plurality of steam emission apertures 12a communicate with the interior of the steam generating chamber and extend through the ironing surface of the soleplate.

Mounted above the soleplate and spaced therefrom is a hollow sheet metal water reservoir 16 which is partially enclosed by a sheet metal housing or shell 17 extending above the periphery of the soleplate It A handle 18 surmounts shell 17, and these parts are secured to the soleplate in any suitable manner. As seen in FIGURE I, handle 18, commonly of moulded resinous material, comprises a grip 18a, a hand shield 19, a rear leg 20 and a front leg 21. Extension 22 of rear leg 20 cooperates with the rear end 23 of shell 17 to support the iron in an upended rest position.

As seen in FIGURE 4, front leg 21 is hollow, as shown, and is adapted to house the upper part of a thermostatic control mechanism 24, manual adjusting means 25 for the thermostatic control, and a fill tube 26. Tube 26 is secured to the top of reservoir 16 adjacent one side of the forward end and angles toward the center, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, where its inlet end is connected to a fill opening 27 in the forward face of the handle by means of flexible tubing 28.

The bottom of water reservoir 16 is formed with an embossed trough 30 that is sloped downward in the horizontal position of the iron toward the front of the iron and also toward an aperture 31 arranged at the forward end of the reservoir adjacent the side opposite the location of the fill tube, the shaping of the embossed trough serving to drain the reservoir toward aperture 31. Extending through aperture 31 and secured thereto is an annular valve body 32 providing a flow regulating construction and a valve seat arranged to provide a controlled flow of water from reservoir 16 to steam generating chamber 12.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the upper portion of valve body 32 is of reduced diameter in order to accept the lower end of tube 33 in which body 32 is snugly engaged. The upper end 34 of tube 33 is extended through. the top of the reservoir, to which it is joined in a sealed air-tight joint. Tube 33 is terminated in the region immediately above the reservoir. Through the valve body 32 adjacent the bottom of the reservoir are two opposed apertures 35 which provide a flow path between the interior of the reservoir and the interior of the valve body.

Extending through tube 33 is a valve stem 36, arranged for axial movement to open or close orifice 37 in valve body 32. The upper end of tube 33 is tapered inward in such manner that the top of the tube is only slightly larger than the valve stem and serves as a pilot for that stem. The valve body 32 encircles the lower end of the valve stem, but is of such diameter as to afford sufiicient clearance to provide an adequate flow of water to the metering orifice 37. A washer 40 secured to an upper portion of valve stem 36 provides a shoulder against which spring 41 bears. Helical spring 41 surrounds an upper part of stem 36 and extends between the washer and the top edge of tube 33. The spring through washer 40 urges the valve stem upward toward open valve position.

As shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, a bracket 43 is fastened to the underside of hand shield 19 as by a screw 43a adjacent one edge of shield 19 and to the rear of fill tube 26. As seen in FIGURE 6 bracket 43 is provided with a transverse slot 44. A metal strip provides valve actuator 45 which has at one end a downwardly extending tab 45a bent at right angles to the strip and adapted to fit into slot 44, these parts cooperating to serve as a hinge as seen in FIGURE 5. The other end of actuator 45 is provided with an aperture 47 arranged to be fitted over pin 48 extending from the upper end of valve stem 36. Acting upon actuator 45 between its two ends, and adjacent the hinged end, is a cam 51 arranged to engage the upper face of the actuator. Cam 51 is a rotatable member supported in a slot in shield 19 in bearing portions thereof on integral trunnion pin projections 52 (see FIGURE 5). A finger-piece 54 projects above the shield 19 in position to permit convenient manipulation of the cam from above. The cam is of such shape as to have two stable positions. When finger-piece 54 is moved in one direction, cam 51 presses downward on actuator 45 and in one of its stable positions provides a flat surface holding actuator 45 down to close the valve against the bias of spring 41. This prevents the introduction of water to the steam generating chamber and the iron is thereby adjusted for dry ironing. When the finger-piece is moved in the opposite direction to the other stable cam position, the pressure of the cam on the actuator is released and spring 41 urges the valve stem upward to open valve position. This is the arrangement for steam ironmg. I

It will be seen from FIGURES 5 and 8 that a portion of the upper end of tube 33 is swedged outward as shown at 56, into a form suggesting the pouring spout of a coffee pot. The swedging operation is performed after the tube is mounted in the reservoir, which results in a tight seal between the top of the reservoir and the tube despite its irregular shape. A section through the area of enlargement suggests the general shape of a keyway along only a short portion of the circumference so that it does not interfere with the upper end of the tube serving as a pilot for the valve stem. The swedged portion extends from the top of tube 33 downward to a point where there is substantial clearance between the inside of the tube 33 and the outside of valve stem 36, due to the tapered form of the tube.

When the iron is supported on its heel rest, the outlet end of fill tube 26 and both ends of tube 33 are positioned at substantially the highest point of the reservoir. As water is introduced through fill tube 26, air escapes through apertures 35, between valve stem 36 and tube 33, through spout 56 and into the interior of the iron above the reservoir. Since essentially only air escapes no harm is done to internal iron parts. After filling, when the iron is shifted to operating position, the water in the reservoir seals apertures 35, which are then at the lowest point, and no air or steam can escape through tube 33. The sloping trough bottom of the reservoir keeps these apertures sealed until the reservoir is susbtantially empty, at which time refilling is required for continued operation as a steam iron. As stated, the vent tube is provided to exhaust air displaced by water that enters through the fill tube. The fill tube is in communication with the outside air at all times, hence air can freely enter through 7 that tube to replace water that is fed from the reservoir to the steam generating chamber.

It will be seen that an extremely satisfactory venting means has been provided in the simplest possible manner by combining the vent tube with supporting means for the valve stem, and by using apertures 35 alternately for vent ing means and for means to feed water from the reservoir to the steam generating chamber.

Although only a single embodiment has been described, other embodiments and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, and it is therefore to be under stood that the invention is not to be limited in interpreta tion except by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a steam iron, a soleplate having portions defining a steam generating chamber, a water reservoir above said chamber in communication therewith, a handle for the iron fixed relative to the soleplate and having a hollow front column with a forward-facing opening, a fill tube extending from said opening communicating with the interior of said reservoir whereby the reservoir may be filled with water while the soleplate is in a substantially vertical position, air venting means for said reservoir separate from said fill tube effective when the iron is being filled said air venting means comprising a tube having a sole inlet adjacent the bottom of said reservoir at its forward end and having an outlet above the top of said reservoir, and sealing means for said venting means effective when the soleplate is in horizontal operating position.

2. A steam iron in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealing means is a liquid seal.

3. In a steam iron, a soleplate having portions defining a steam generating chamber, a water reservoir above said chamber in communicating therewith, a handle for the iron fixed relative to the soleplate and having a hollow front column with a forward-facing opening, a fill tube extending from said opening communicating With the interior of the reservoir, means at the rear of the iron for supporting the iron in an upended position for filling, and air venting means separate from said fill tube comprising a conduit arranged at the forward end of the reservoir having an outlet outside the reservoir and having an inlet adjacent the bottom of said reservoir arranged to be at substantially the highest point of the reservoir when the iron is upended, so as to exhaust displaced air, and to be at substantially the lowest point when the iron is in operating position whereby the inlet is sealed by water in the reservoir.

4. A steam iron in accordance with claim 3, wherein the bottom of said water reservoir has a portion that slopes downward toward its forward end, and said inlet is adjacent the lowest point in said sloping portion.

5. In a steam iron, a soleplate having portions defining a steam generating chamber, a water reservoir above said chamber, a handle for the iron fixed relatively to the soleplate and having a hollow front column with a forward-facing opening, a fill tube extending from said opening communicating with the interior of the reservoir, means at the rear of the iron for supporting the iron in an upended position for filling, a valve including a valve body mounted in the bottom of said reservoir at its forward end adapted to deliver water to the steam generating chamber, a valve stem cooperating with the valve body and extending through the top of the reservoir for manual operation to open and close said valve, and means separate from said fill tube for venting air from the reservoir while it is being filled, said valve body, including adjacent the bottom of the reservoir communicating between the interior of the valve body and the interior of the reservoir, and said venting means comprising a tube surrounding said valve stem and extending from said valve body to a point above the top of the reservoir.

6. A steam iron in accordance with claim 5, wherein said apertures serve as means for delivering water from the reservoir into the valve body and thereby to the steam generating chamber when the iron is in operating position and the valve is open.

7. A steam iron in accordance with claim 5, wherein the upper end of said tube is adapted to pilot said valve steam.

8. A steam iron in accordance with claim 7, wherein a major portion of the circumference of said upper end of said tube serves as a pilot for the valve stem and a small portion is enlarged to provide a passageway for dis laced air.

9. A steam iron in accordance with claim 8, wherein the downward extension of said tube is tapered outward, and said enlarged portion extends downward to a point where there is substantial clearance between the valve stem and the tube as a result of said taper.

10. In a steam iron, a soleplate including an electric resistance heating element and having portions defining a steam generating chamber, a water reservoir above said chamber, a handle for the iron fixed relative to the soleplate and having a hollow front column w th a forwardfacing opening, a fill tube extending from said opening communicating with the interior of the reservoir at its forward end, means at the rear of the iron for supporting the iron in an upended position for filling, a valve including a valve body mounted in the bottom of said reservoir at its forward end adapted to deliver water to the steam generating chamber, a valve stem cooperating with the valve body and extending through the top of the reservoir for manual operation to open and close said valve, apertures through said valve body adjacent the bottom of the reservoir, a vent tube surrounding said valve stem extending from said valve body and tapering inward to a point immediately above the top of the reservoir, a portion aaao of the circumference of said tube at its upper end being enlarged to provide a clearance for the escape of air when Water is being introduced through the fill tube a washer secured to an upper portion of said valve stem, a spring surrounding said valve stem mounted between said washer and the upper end of said vent tube adapted to bias the valve stem toward open valve position, and manually operable cam means cooperating with the upper end of the valve stem to close the valve against the bias of said spring and to release said stem so that said spring can move the valve to open position.

11. A steam iron in accordance with claim 10, wherein said fill tube and said vent tube are aligned transversely of the reservoir at the forward end thereof,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,515,776 Kassab July 18, 1950 2,620,576 Stevenson et al. Dec. 9, 1952 2,727,320 Vance Dec. 20, 1955 2,744,342 More May 8, 1956 2,746,183 Kistner May 22, 1956 2,878,601 Burmeister et al Mar. 24, 1959 2,908,092 Clapp Oct. 13, 1959 2,970,394 Brumbaugh Feb. 7, 1961 3,041,756 Foster July 3, 1962 3,045,370 Foster July 24, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 146,540 September l 1964 John Co Fagan It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring, correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belo Column l line 11, for "boilers" read boiler column 41 line 29 for "communicating" read communication line 62 after "body" strike out the comma; line 63 before "adjacent" insert apertures line 75 for "steam" read stem column 6 line 3, after "tube" insert a comma Signed and sealed this 12th day of January 1965,

(SEAL) Altest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' I EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A STEAM IRON, A SOLEPLATE HAVING PORTIONS DEFINING A STEAM GENERATING CHAMBER, A WATER RESERVOIR ABOVE SAID CHAMBER IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, A HANDLE FOR THE IRON FIXED RELATIVE TO THE SOLEPLATE AND HAVING A HOLLOW FRONT COLUMN WITH A FORWARD-FACING OPENING, A FILL TUBE EXTENDING FROM SAID OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID RESERVOIR WHEREBY THE RESERVOIR MAY BE FILLED WITH WATER WHILE THE SOLEPLATE IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, AIR VENTING MEANS FOR SAID RESERVOIR SEPARATE FROM SAID FILL TUBE EFFECTIVE WHEN THE IRON IS BEING FILLED SAID AIR VENTING MEANS COMPRISING A TUBE HAVING A SOLE INLET ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID RESERVOIR AT ITS FORWARD END AND HAVING AN OUTLET ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID RESERVOIR, AND SEALING MEANS FOR SAID VENTING MEANS EFFECTIVE WHEN THE SOLEPLATE IS IN HORIZONTAL OPERATING POSITION. 